Black Catholic Spirituality Article ~ { Print Version }
The National Black Catholic Congress
www.nbccongress.org

"New Life In Christ"
A Reflection on the Easter Sacraments
By Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, M.T.S.
© 2009 Aurem Cordis. All Rights Reserved.

"Christ emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. . . . It was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross! Because of this, God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name above every other name, so that at Jesus' name, every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: Jesus Christ Is Lord!" ⁱ 

During the Easter season, the Church recognizes her own death and resurrection: we die to sin and death, and rise triumphantly with Christ into our Heavenly Father's loving arms: into a relationship of boundless love and everlasting life where sin and death no longer have meaning ⁱⁱ . This foundational truth of our faith is the fabric that binds the entire universe together, for it is God's love that gives life, meaning, and purpose to all things. Being made in His image and likeness, we receive the grace to share in God's life-giving love that flows freely from His divine heart. This treasure of God's merciful love that leads to eternal life cannot be attained on our own; only when we are crucified with Christ, only when our sins and sufferings are united with his, only when we die to our old selves and are buried with him can we hope to share in the infinite joy of his resurrection! ⁱⁱⁱ 

The reception of catechumens at Easter into the fullness of the faith reminds us of the gift given by God to those who are baptized, a gift that unfolds as a lifelong challenge to make the flame of God's love burn brightly in our hearts and illumine our souls; to challenge ourselves everyday to live out our baptismal call to holiness by making Jesus Christ the single most important priority in our lives. ^iv  "Thus, the shift from Good Friday to Easter must be two things at once: joy at the most wonderful gift of God's grace, and determination to keep the promises made at our baptism. ^v " This is why Holy Mother Church, in her limitless wisdom, decrees that on Easter Day we renew our baptismal promises as a reminder of our commitment to be living witnesses to and perfect examples of the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Easter also points us to the sacrament of Confirmation, a sacrament that is an integral part of the initiation into the Christian faith community and not merely a "rite of passage," or a re-baptism, or a mature decision to be Catholic. Instead, we become more like Christ and are open to a deeper presence and fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the personal expression of God's love and teaches us to live in His name: to become holy. Holiness is "that sanctity which is cultivated by all who act under God's spirit," ^vi  thus, the more we "act under God's spirit," the more we seek to know and to do God's holy will, the more we implore the assistance and grace of the Holy Spirit, the more we grow in holiness. The Spirit that animates the Easter Mystery helps us to grow in love, opening our hearts more deeply to respond to His call to be faithful and faith-filled soldiers of Jesus Christ. Being sealed with the gift of the Spirit reminds us all that we belong to Christ and are living temples of the Word.

The Resurrection Gift of the Lord's Body and Blood opens our hearts, making us more aware of Jesus' Real Presence in our lives and the lives of every human person. ^vii  In becoming one flesh with the Risen Lord we have the courage to say "Yes" to God's invitation to new life in him and, with great joy and firm hearts, respond out of a faith, a hope, and a life-giving love that conquers sin and fear, that conquers the darkness of death, and that gives us the courage to say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

In the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, we share in God's life in a deeply personal and intimate way. There is no greater way to remain in His love than to unite our bodies with His so that we may have life and our joy may be complete. Joining ourselves to the Resurrected Christ strengthens and deepens our faith, teaching us to have complete trust and confidence in God's holy will. In giving his life for His Bride, the Church, Christ took upon himself the spiritual sacrifices of each one of us who offer ourselves in union with the sacrifice of Christ, whose "gift of love and obedience to the point of giving his life is … first and foremost a gift to the Father: 'a sacrifice that the Father accepted, giving in return for this total self-giving by His Son … immortal life in the resurrection.'" ^viii 

What is the Lord saying to us this Easter? He is telling us that we no longer have to fear, for there is nothing we can ever do, there is no sin too great, there is no hurt to deep that cannot be forgiven by the power of the Resurrection! He is saying to us: "I am Christ. Come all you nations, receive forgiveness for the sins that defile you. I am your forgiveness. I am the Passover that brings salvation. I am the lamb that was sacrificed for you. I am your ransom, your life, your resurrection, your light; I am your salvation and your king. I will bring you to the heights of heaven. With my own right hand, I will raise you up" ^ix , and I will draw you into my heart where you will live in the presence of God forever. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

1. Philippians 2:6-11
2. Hans Urs von Balthasar, Light of the Word: Brief Reflections on the Sunday Readings, 69.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid., 70
6. Lumen Gentium, n.41.
7. Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 13.
8. Ibid.
9. From an Easter homily by Melito of Sardis, Liturgy of the Hours, Volume II, p. 555.